Geospatial Data Intern

The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) will hire two undergraduate university students for our Geospatial Data Internship opportunities for the 2025-2026 academic year. We’re seeking current undergraduate students with geospatial data analysis experience to research, manage, and update data leveraged by our program staff to fight for clean water, clean air, and a livable environment in the South. The interns will work closely with the Geospatial Science Team and Communications Team on research projects to fill much-needed data gaps in complex and evolving strategic campaigns. Project topics may change semester-to-semester and may include pollution in drinking water supplies, the threat of sea level rise to industrial facilities, siting green energy infrastructure, the disproportionate burden of road expansion projects in communities of color, protecting wildlife habitat for endangered species, or other topics. Examples of recent past projects include compiling regional PFAS monitoring results into an online data viewer, and synthesizing data on energy burden to deploy at geographically specific scales.

The Geospatial Science team at the Southern Environmental Law Center uses geographic information science and data visualization to analyze, direct, and visually communicate the organization’s work. Our tactics blend localized geographic knowledge, earth observation data, applied science, and information design to generate actionable information to move issues forward. This is an excellent opportunity to join a highly successful, nationally recognized organization that is effectively addressing some of the most pressing and challenging environmental issues throughout the South and the nation.

Interns will work primarily in-office with some time working from campus/remote possible. These two openings are part-time, paid internships that will start at the beginning of the Fall 2025 semester and continue until the end of the Spring 2026 semester (interns will work for both semesters, ideally, with break time in-between semesters).

Primary Responsibilities (dependent on internship project):

• Research sources of geospatial data on project themes in SELC’s six states (AL, GA, NC, SC, TN, VA).
• Prepare publicly acquired data for analysis. Preparation may include digitizing, georeferencing, standardizing formats, cleaning results, and testing for completeness.
• Document data sources, standardization methods, and analysis. Write comprehensive metadata for datasets developed during the internship.
• Prepare management/maintenance plans and best practices for continuing to keep information up-to-date and accurate.
• Work with SELC staff to integrate data into existing online geospatial tools and workflows.
• Prepare maps and/or data visualizations on project themes, including graphics for print, digital images, and interactive web-based tools.

Qualifications:

• Experience collecting and using geospatial and aspatial geographic data from public sources, especially state and local governments.
• Proficiency in ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online. Basic data manipulation in R or Python a plus.
• Geospatial data collection, management, and analysis, including a familiarity with best practices in writing metadata and project documentation.
• Research skills including interpreting data, writing summaries, and preparing annotated bibliographies.
• Basic understanding/interest in environmental law and environmental justice.
• Ability to explain research findings to a broad audience, including those without any technical or topic expertise.
• Ability to receive and integrate constructive feedback.
• A genuine interest in and commitment to helping SELC create and foster an equitable and inclusive workplace that reflects the rich racial and cultural diversity of our region.

About SELC:

The Southern Environmental Law Center is one of the nation’s most powerful defenders of the environment, rooted in the South. With a long track record, SELC takes on the toughest environmental challenges in court, in government, and in our communities to protect our region’s air, water, climate, wildlife, lands, and people. Nonprofit and nonpartisan, the organization has a staff of over 200, including more than 130 legal and policy experts, and is headquartered in Charlottesville, VA, with offices in Asheville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Chapel Hill, Charleston, Nashville, Richmond, and Washington, DC.

At our core, we are place-based, rooted in our region, and connected with the communities and clients we serve. We believe in an equitable and inclusive workplace that reflects the rich racial and cultural diversity of our region and allows diverse perspectives to come to the forefront. We approach our work with the highest level of integrity, holding ourselves to high standards with an emphasis on honesty, accountability, and thoughtfulness. We value collaboration and camaraderie, realizing we are strongest when we work together and knowing that everyone has a critical role to play. We strive for impact through a strategic, bold, pragmatic, and ambitious outlook that is dedicated to achieving powerful results. Learn more at https://www.southernenvironment.org/.

Internship Information:

• Duration: 2025-2026 academic year – Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters
  • Approximately 10-12 weeks each semester, 20-24 total weeks.
  • Starting approximately mid/late August 2025 to mid-December 2025 and mid-January to mid-May 2026.
• Number of openings: 2
• Ideal start date: August 25, 2025 (flexible)
• Hours: 15-20 hours/week
• Compensation: $16.00/hour
• FLSA Status: Non-exempt (temporary)
• Location: SELC Chapel Hill Office – 136 E Rosemary St., Suite 500 Chapel Hill, NC 27514
• Application Deadline: Friday June 13, 2025

Hiring Process notes:

• Application reviews and interview selections to be finalized by 6/13/25.
• Interviews to commence the week of 6/16/25.
• Offers potentially made by the end of June or early July 2025.

To Apply:

Click on the ‘Apply Now’ button below to be directed to an online application where you may upload your application materials. Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume and a work sample or portfolio link (such as a mapping project, work sample from a related job, internship, or research project, or a personal project demonstrating skills relevant to the position), and three references. The initial deadline to apply is Friday June 6, 2025, at 11:59pmEST. The hiring team will finalize all application reviews and interview decisions following the application deadline. We plan to start conducting interviews the week of 6/16 and have a hiring decision made by the end of June. Please email hiring@selc.org with any questions or concerns.

APPLY NOW

SELC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering an inclusive workplace environment. We are eager to welcome new team members who share this commitment. Qualified persons of all backgrounds—including traditionally underrepresented individuals such as people of color, women, people with disabilities, veterans, and LGBTQ candidates—are strongly encouraged to apply.